772 | Wine | White Rhone Blend, 91 or higher

"Ripe but nicely focused, this white displays tangerine and nectarine notes along the edges, lending a racy hint to the peach and yellow apple fruit flavors. There's good cut on the finish."

"This has a lovely, creamy mouthfeel, with very enticing blood orange, creamed peach, Cavaillon melon and sweetened butter notes. The long, dacquoise-framed finish glides beautifully."

"More restrained than usual, with more minerality and acidity, which is in keeping with the vintage character. While still relatively exotic, everything is more buttoned down. However, the overall impression is of a full-bodied, powerful, honeyed white wine with superb depth, richness, and potential complexity. This beauty should be at its peak between 2010 and 2015." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"It comes across as a top-flight white Chateauneuf du Pape rather than a less expensive Costieres de Nimes. Light gold in color, with an extraordinary nose of vivid honeysuckle, candle wax, marmalade and tropical fruit, the wine is elegant, has good acidity, and wonderful freshness, but a surprisingly intense, full-bodied mouthfeel. Following a tasting, I had this wine with Maryland soft shell crabs, and it was an exquisite marriage." Reviewed by Robert Parker

"Intense, rich and remarkably focused, this offers stunning purity of fruit, such as Jonagold apple and Cavaillon melon, along with enticing heather honey, roasted macadamia nut, orange blossom and dried persimmon notes, all laid over a dense but brilliantly defined palate. The nearly endless finish of beeswax and buttered brioche is absolutely fantastic. Drink now or hold for a decade. Perhaps the best white produced here to date."

"The stunning 2006 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc possesses aromas of acacia flowers, honeysuckle, melon, quince, and orange marmalade. Amazingly, this brilliant example of white Chateauneuf du Pape should last for 10-20 years." Reviewed by Robert Parker.